Page 133 of Master of My Heart

Sabrina swallowed and began to recount the last few days. She didn’t go into much detail about what the man had done, but she didn’t need to. Chase had seen the results all over her body. The details she did give gave him chills. How could someone survive all that? Well, he knew the answer. A human couldn’t survive it, but an Immortal could.

“Neil said the other person was my Master, too, and that he’d see me soon and I’d remember everything.”

Goosebumps popped up on Chase’s arms as Richard and Tom looked at each other, alarmed. Theo stiffened and moved closer, looking at Sabrina closely.

“Master?” Richard repeated.

Sabrina nodded and finally looked up. “It made me feel funny when he said that, but I don’t know why.”

Richard looked thoughtful for a moment. “And you don’t remember any Master?”

She shook her head. “I feel...” She sighed and shook her head again.

“What do you feel, Sabrina?” Tom asked. Chase could see the concern in his eyes, but he kept his voice calm.

She sighed. “I feel as if I should know something about it, but I really can’t remember anything.” She looked up at Theo. “I don’t understand why.”

Theo nodded and held out his hand. “May I?” he asked, not touching her.

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Theo knelt in front of her and placed his hand on her head once more, but Chase knew he wasn’t healing her. He was delving deep into her mind. He’d done the same thing to him when she’d called out while she was missing.

Silence hung heavy as Theo searched Sabrina’s mind. Chase glanced at Richard and Tom, who watched intently. Tommy gave him a reassuring smile.

Sabrina still held his hand and she tightened her grip a few times. Finally, Theo leaned back on his heels, looking frustrated. “He is powerful, this Master of yours,” he said, frowning. “He has blocked off your memories and even I cannot see them.” He looked at Richard. “There is a bond, but it is not especially strong. He has used fear and abuse to gain his power over her. You must be alert and wary of whomever wants her. Deception is his specialty, and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.”

“How do you know?” Tom asked.

“Because of the method he has already used. This is very ancient magic that I have not seen—” He stopped mid-sentence and his golden face turned ashen.

Of all the things Chase had experienced in his life, and he had not been sheltered in the least, the sight of an Immortal going pale was the most frightening thing he’d ever seen.

“Theo?” Richard asked, voice trembling slightly. Both he and Tom looked very worried.

“You must protect her at all costs, Elders,” he said, his voice solemn and deep. He stood, glowing and looking more Immortal than Chase had ever seen him. “He must not have her, or all is lost. I must go.” He leaned down and kissed Sabrina on the forehead. “Daughter, trust them. They are good men. They will protect you and love you.” He glanced at Chase with a nod, then looked at Richard. “She is Koriathanati. I leave her in your care. Do not fail me.”

He disappeared in a flash of light, the room suddenly becoming silent and somber. Chase was afraid to breathe, let alone look around the room to see everyone’s reactions.

“What does that all mean?” Sabrina asked after a few moments, her voice shaking.

Chapter Forty-Four

Sabrina stared at the spot where Theo had stood. Was he a different kind of Immortal than Khyan? She’d never seen anyone disappear like that before. Maybe that was the difference between the two beings. Maybe Theo really wasn’t an Immortal. Maybe he was another kind of being who could appear and disappear at will. He felt the same, at least on the surface. But he was kind. She’d never met an Immortal who was kind before. Not that she’d met any besides Terric and Khyan. She knew she couldn’t disappear at will. If she could, she’d have done it years ago.

She still felt him inside her mind. He had searched her memories, but there was a spot he couldn’t see. He tried different ways, but it remained like a locked door that couldn’t be picked or broken into. She felt his concern, but it was more than that. It was fear.

That didn’t make her feel very good. He was obviously a very powerful being. What could scare him so much? At first, she thought she scared him, but then realized it was because of that black spot in her memory.

“What does that all mean?” she asked, looking at Chase, then Richard. They both looked upset and she feared she had made them angry. What had she done this time?

“Sabrina, you didn’t do anything,” Richard said, his expression sincere. He looked at the spot Theo had disappeared from, then back at her. “Do you know what Theo is?”

She frowned, thinking back to her earlier thoughts. “He feels like an Immortal, but he’s nice. And he can disappear. Is he some kind of Immortal? A special kind or something?”

“As far as I am aware, there is only one kind of Immortal. You’ve met them before?”

Sabrina nodded. “Terric, who was with Neil... He’s one. And...” She hesitated. “Khyan, my biological father, is one.” She didn’t want to tell them that her father was also her grandfather and great-grandfather. They would surely be disgusted with the idea. It surprised her that none of them looked surprised at her pronouncement. “Do... do you know what I am?”

Chase squeezed her hand and the others nodded. “We knew you were an Immortal of some kind.” He exhaled. “What was that term Theo used, Richard?”

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